A burnt-out transport ship carrying thousands of cars has been towed to a northern Dutch port more than a week after catching fire at sea, averting a feared environmental disaster.
Local media images showed tugs towing the Fremantle Highway into Eemshaven after a journey from a holding position.
One sailor died and 22 were rescued after the Panamanian-flagged ship, carrying 3,783 new cars, including 498 electric vehicles, caught fire off the Dutch coast on 25 July.
“I can confirm the ship has arrived in Eemshaven,” said Jente Wieldraaijer, a spokesperson for the regional safety authority.
The blaze had raised the spectre of an ecological disaster on the nearby Wadden chain of islands, a Unesco world heritage site spanning the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
The situation had been largely under control for several days, but bad weather in the North Sea raised concerns the vessel could leak oil or even sink while being towed to port.
It had previously been anchored at a holding position 10 miles (16 kilometres) north of the islands of Schiermonnikoog and Ameland, where it had been towed during Sunday and Monday.
A specialised boat for cleaning up oil spills remained near the Fremantle Highway throughout the journey.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, although the vessel’s owner has said it may have been one of the electric vehicles on board.
Some crew members were forced to jump overboard from significant heights after the fire broke out, and a number were taken to hospital.
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